Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-05-13
The Interstate Commerce Law.
Courier Journal


The important information comes
from the East that some of the trunk
lines are satisfied with the new law,
and that II has heen possible to dis
cover some shippers who think il
may do.
The fact remains that the dissatis-
faction with II is deep and widespread.
The trunk lines by whipping in their
connections and using the increased
power which the law gives the strong
lines over the weak, may In time so
arrange tariffs as to protect them
selves and a few special interests.
The new law differs from one sug-
gested in the interest Of the trunk
lines some time ago only in the fourth
section--the long and short-haul sec
tion-and that section will cause the
greatest distress, not In the thickly
settled East, with its finished railroad
system, but in the agricultural regions
of the West and South.
In advance this was pointed out
by the Courier-Journal. Weshowed
how any law restricting commerce
would result only in strengthening
the influence of the trunk lines, and
low any restriction as TO through
rates would build up the East at the
expense ofthe West and South.
This is the situation to-day; the
contest over this banefnl measure
will be fought between Eastern in
fluences on one side, with the West
and South and Eastern intesests de-
pendent on the prosperity of the
West and South opposing. In all
such contests heretofore the East has
triumphed, but IL seems that at this
time the chances ale against them.
The evils of the new system are too
apparent aud too aggravated to pass
unnoticed they must be remedied.
AS IL stands to-day all the weaker
lines will be under the dominion of
the stronger, or refusing to submit,
our whole system of through rates
for freight and'passengers will be dis
arranged. Tho law gives 10 the trunk
line combination force itdid not be-
fore possess, aud hereafter II will be
impossible for new line TO force its
way into business by low rates. I'M
der this law we may not In twenty
years see new trunk line unless
some strong Western roads should
feel justified In making Eastern ex-
tensions.
Instead ofexaggerating the opposi-
ton TO this law, the newspapers have
not yet fully represented 1t. Brad
streets, which has earned an enviable
reputation for its reports ON CONNER
cial affairs, has this week concluded,
after an interview with fifteen hum
dred merchants, that the effect of the
law is an open question. The Couri-
er-Journal has no means of knowing
how accurate its reports are from
other cities, but the follwing para
graph from Louisville is wide of the
mark:
"At Louisville, Ky, the new rates
on groceries, grain and flour and
boots and shoes are all favorable on
textiles, tobacco and whisky, un-
favorable. Metals and machinery are
divided"
A committee of merchants and
manufacturers has been appointed
to 90 to Memphis 10 protest against
the enforcement Of the fourth section
II contains two grain men and two
flour merchants. The petition which
this committee will present has been
signed by boot and shoe men, grocers,
and, IL fact, all classes Of shippers.
At conference ofthe committee yes
terday afternoon II was reported that
though now and then some decline to
sign because they had not made upl
their minds, the opposition to the law
was surprise even to the committee,
the shippers signing with rare unani-
nifty. In fact this Is no new subject,
Just brought before the merchants OF
Louisville. Three times the Board
of Trade, or its Transportation Com
mittee, has entered its protests against
the principles embodied in the fourth
section. Fortunately, Louisville has
had little experience with the law, be-
cause IL has been suspended In the
South, but that experience has only
deepened and strengthened the oppo-
sition to the principle of legislative
regulation as against free competi-
ton.